Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-08-19

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doubts about the final result of the COM
lnt that began at once.
That combat was trial of brute
force that no words of mine are ade-
ouate to describe. When the bear made
his appearance out Of the thicket the
bull did not wait for his contestant s
charge, but, lowering his great head to
the ground, he rushed madly upon the
bear. The latter seemed to appreciate
the abilities of the bull, and summoned
all the wariness of his nature to his aid.
He waited until the bull was almost
upon him, anu then sprang aside with
marvellous quickness, seized his assail-
ants horns in his powerful grasp, and
pressed his head down against the
ground by his great strength ana
weight of his enormous body, biting at
the bulls nose and tearing the flesh
from his neck and shoulders with his
long sharp claws. This position was
maintained for at least five minutes, the
bull struggling desperately to free his
head but being unable to accomplish it,,
while the bear put forth every muscle
to press the bulls body to the ground.
The blood poured from the bulls nos
trils in great streams, but the bear had
as yet received no apparent injury.
presently both animals paused in
their desperate struggle, AS each was
blown and rapidly approaching cxhaus-
ton. The bear did not relax the hold
he had obtained OIL his contestant. AS
yet during the fight neither animal had
uttered sound, except their loud and
labored breathing. The cessation in the
struggle had probably been of ten min
utes' duration, when suddenly the bull
made one desperate lunge, broke the
motionless but terrific embrace, hurled
the bear from off his head, and backed
away probably ten PAGES. The bear lift
ed his huge form Oh his launches, and
stood ready for the next assault. The
herd of cattle had by this time gathered
i'm from the plain and surrounded the
combatantS, moaning and believing and
paving mp the ground but maintaining
a terrified neutrality. From this posi-
! tiOn i'm the tree | watched the exciting
scene with breathless interest.
"The bull did not remain at rest "A
moment after backing away for new
charge, but. rendered furious by his
wounds, lie gathered all his energies,
and with IN unearthly cry rushed with
impetuous force and and ferocity upon
the bear. The latter attempted to use
the tactics that had served him so well
at the first on slaught, but the second
charge of the bull was irresistible, in
spite of the Sear's terrific blows with his
paws, and the grizzly went down in the
dust before his crazed antagonist, and
vainly tried to defend himself. The
bull thrust his horns in under the bear,
caught him in the belly with one OF the
sharp weapons, and with one furious
sweep Of his head tore the grizzly open
until his entrails protruded. Then the
grizzly rose TO his feet, and with a roar
that made my blood run cold closed
with his terrible enemy, and for long
time the two fought, their cries and the
cries of the surrounding cattle being
frightful to listen to.
"While the fight was going on two
great eagles appeared from some my:te-
rious Grie and sailed and circled above
the scene Of the conflict, leisurely and
gradually dropping nearer to the earth.
Almost simultaneously with the appear
ance OF the eagles l saw the heads of
half dozen hungry wolves emerge
from the bushes where the fight had be-
gun. | knew that the battle must soon
end, and that the eagles and the wolves
had scented the contest from afar, and
knew by their infallible instinct that it
must result in choice prey for them.
The presence of these hungry birds and
beasts of prey added to the terror Of the
bloody conflict.
"The terrible fight continued. The
ground was torn up and covered with
blood for many feet around. Both ami
mails were previously wounded. 1t
was plain that neither could hold out
much longer. Manned and CORY, they
fought with the certainty of death, the
bear rolling over and over in the dust,
yainly trying to avoid the fatal horns of
his adversary, and the bull ripping,
thrusting. and tearing the grizzly with
irresistible ferocity. 1T last, as If de-
termined to end the conflict, the bull
drew back. lowered bis head, and made
a third terrific charge, but, blinded by
the streams Of blood that poured down
his face, he missed his mark, stumbled,
and rolled headlong OH the ground. In
spite of his frightful injuries and great
exhaustion, the bear turned quickly and
sprang upon MS prostTate enemy. lie
seemed to have beer suddenly invigor-
ated by this turn OF the battle in his ia
vor. With mercless sweeps Of his huge
claws he tore the flesh in great masses
from the bulls p-turned side. The ad-
vantage the bear thus obtained over the
bull seemed 10 be understood by the
herd, and the believing increased, dirt
was thrown about in clouds, and one
big cow drew near the struggling ami
mails. and / believed for a moment that
she intended TO go to the aid of the
herds PROSTATE leader, so fierce was her
aspect and actions; but she simply cir
cled around the bear and the bull bel
lowing and paving. In the mean time